Direction-indicator for vehicles



A. LATSHAW.

DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION M23050. 5, 1919.

380 9 2 Patented June 7, 19 21.

2 SHEETS SHEET I.

i kg J Mam Latsham A, LATSHAW.

DIRECTION lNDlCATOR FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED 056.5. 1919.

Patnfed June 7, 1921.

2 SHEET$-SHEET 2.

his 1W6.

UNITED stares.

PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM LATS I-IAW, OF DUBOIS, PENNSYLVANIA! DIRECTION-INDICATOR Fora VEHICLES.

Application filed December 5, 1919. Serial No. 342,704.. 2

dicators for Vehicles, o f'whichthe"following is a specification.

This invention relates to a direction indicator for vehlcles. In providing a direction indicator for Vehicles it is a general object to accomplish the function of warning the driver of a vehicle approaching from the rear that the vehicle in front is either going to stop, move to the right or move to the left. This is generally done by means of a series of elements which indicate-in words, by lights, or otherwise the intentions of the driver of the vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above described character which may be arranged on a vehicle in such manner that it will not only Warn the driver of a vehicle approaching from the rear but will also warn pedestrians and other vehicles approaching in an opposite direction of the intentions of the driver having in charge the vehicle which is equipped with the device.

This invention also has for one of its 0bdevice by which two different directions may be indicated both at the front and rear of the vehicle or a complete stop cated.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a device in which the direction indicating elements are controlledin-their'movement to indicate a change of directionby electrical means and'upon the deenergization of such electrical means the indicating elements return by gravity to their normal non-indicating position thus making a Very simple and compact construction.

Still another feature of the invention is to provide means for illuminating the indicating members so that the indicator may] be as useful at night as in the day.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automo bile equipped with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showingthe circuits; I Fig. 3 is a View in of the indicator, and

JGCtS the provision of a direction indicating may be indiand carrying a gear 13. fastened in place on said shaft 12 by means perspective of one unit cured in place by screws 22, said plate 21 I c Specification ofLetters Patent! PatenfediJune 7, 1921.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section in avertical I plane of'the unit shown in Fig. 8.

The direction indicator comprises two units A and 'B, identical in construction except for the brackets by means of which they are applied to the'vehicle; that is to say,one unit A- is attached at the front of the car as for instance to the neck of the radiator as shown in Fig.1, and the other unit is attached to the left hand rear mud guard as shown, or may be attached to the center rear portion of the car. as for instance, in the center of the usual tire carriver provided on the rear of thefcar. A selector switchC for operating the units A and B may be located onthe dash asshown in Fig.1 or on the steering wheel of the vehicle dependent on the wishes of the party applying the device to the vehicle.

Since the units A and B are identical in construction only one will be described.

With reference to Figs. Sand 4: the indicating unit comprises a casing 1 of anysuitable material having a bottom 2 hinged at 3 and which may be held in its normal closed position by clips esecured in place by screws 5 or other means; The casing 1 may beof rectangular :form provided at its forward side with a hood 6 in one end of which is located an incandescent light 7 connected with the usual lightingcircuit of an automobile and preferably operated by the same switches operates the tail light of the vehicle. casing 1 is apertured asat: 8 and the rear wall also is apertured and countersunk as at 9 in alinement with the aperture 8. The indicating means comprises two superposed dependentv arrow members 10 and 11, the former of which is mounted on a" hollow shaft 12 extending through the aperture 8 The arrow 10 is of a set scr'ewl i and the gearq l3 is similarly fastened'by a *set screw 15 whilea collar 16 fastened by, a setscrewi? abuts the rear side of the front wall of the casing '1 to preventforward displacement of the shaft 12. Concentric with the shaft 12 is a second shaft 18 which has an enlarged rear The forward side of the portion 19 abutting the rear end of the shaft 1 12 to prevent displacement of said shaft and i 1 the rear end of the enlarged portion .19 seats ina step bearing 20 in a plate 21'seseating in the countersunk aperture 9 of the rear wall of the casing 1. A gear 2% similar to the gear is carried by'the enlarged portion 19 of the shaft 18 and held in place bv a suitable set screw 25. It will be seen this construction that if the two shafts l2 and 18 are oscillated in opposite directions the arrow members 10 and 11 will move to a position at right angles to the po sition shown in Fig. 3.

In order to accomplish the movement of the direction indicating members 10 and 11 as above outlined there is carried on the rear face of the casing 1 two horizontally extending supports 26 and 27 which have bearings 28, 99 and 30, 31 receiving vertically reciprocable rack members 32 and 33 having armature heads a0 and 41, respectively. These racks are so positioned that when the direction indicating members 10 and 11 are in the position shown in Fig. 3 the rack will be elevated. Beneath the racks and 33 and alining with the armatures d0 and ll are solenoids i2 and 43, respectively, which, upon energization serve to elevate the direction indicating members 10 and 11 to the position indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2 which indicates a stop of the vehicle on the part of the driver. The energization of the solenoid 4:2 or the solenoid 43 sep arately will throw the corresponding direction indicating member 10 or 11 into the horizontal or lateral position and upon the deenergization of such solenoid the weight of the direction indicating member will serve to overbalance the weight of the armature &0 or 41 as the case may be and said rack and direction indicating member will return to their normal position as shown in Fig. 4. An armored cable 4st containing wires leading to the solenoids 4:2 and L3 and to the light '7 may be employed for the purpose of connecting the units A and B to the source of electrical energy and the switch for controlling the same. With particular reference to Fig. 2 wherein is shown the diagram- -matic set-up and circuits of the direction indicator units A and B which comprises the solenoids 42, 4-3 and 42', 4:3, respectively, with their respective racks, pinions and right and left hand indicating members 10 and 11 and 10 and 11, respectively; a source of electrical energy D is connected with a wire 45 common to both pairs of solenoids 4:2, a3 and 42, 43 while the other pole of said source of electrical energy D is connected by a wire 4L6 with one side of each button d7, d8 of switch C, the other sides of said switch being connected in the following manner: The right hand side of the switch C indicated by button f? is connected to the remaining terminal of right hand solenoid 43 of unit A and right hand solenoid l3 of unit B while the left hand circuit of the switch C indicated by button 48 is connected with the remaining terminal of left hand solenoid 4:52 of unit A and left hand solenoid 42 of unit B. With this arrangement and the parts in the position indicated in Fig. 2 diagraminatically if the right hand button 47 is pressed the circuit will be formed through the solenoids 43 and 43 with the result that the armatures which are directly over said solenoids, will be drawn down drawing up the right hand direction indicating members of each unit A and B simultaneously whereas if left hand button of switch C is depressed the left hand solenoids 42 and 42' will be energized throwing up the left hand direction indicating members or if both buttons are pressed both circuits in all solenoids will be energized throwing up both direction indicating members of both units A and B with the result that a stop is indicated to persons approaching either from the front or the rear of the vehicle carrying the direction indicating device.

I claim:

The combination of a casing, a hollow shaft journaled in and extending through one wall of the casing, a second shaft journaled at one end in the opposite wall of the casing and having its opposite end extending through and beyond the hollow shaft, said second shaft having an annular shoulder abutting the inner end of the hollow shaft, a collar secured on the hollow shaft and abutting the inner side of the wall of the casing, indicator arms secured on the outer ends of the shafts, a gear on each shaft within the casing, racks mounted in the casing at opposite sides of the shafts, each rack meshing with one of the gears, and means for actuating said racks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ADAM LATsHKw. L 3. 

